Improved carpet-bag frame



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE HAVELL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVED CARPET-BAG FRAME.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,290, dated June 5, 1566.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HAVELL, of the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Frames for Traveling-Bags and other purposes, of the construction and operation of which the following'is hereby declared to be a full, fair, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specication, for the more perfect elucidation of said invention.

By reference to these drawings it will be seen that this invention does not relate to the construction of the entire bag, as to its form or the material ot' which it is made, but only to that part of its structure commonly called the frame,7 intended to close and secure the mouth, and when open to give access to the cavity or cavities of the bag. To this frame the carpet, canvas, leather, or other material of which the bag may be made, is attached. I therefore, to designate more particularly the nature of the invention, call it an improvement in the frames for traveling-bags and other structures of a like character, and not broadly au improvement in carpet-bags.

Iron, steel, brass, or any other suitable material, may be used in the construction of these frames.

ln the drawings hereunto attached, A represents a lock of a peculiar construction, placed or secured upon the central bar of the frame 5 but as it forms no part of this invention it is only introduced to show how the two side pieces, E and G, are fastened to it by means of the two hasps D D, by passing through the holes G C of the middle piece, E. B B are rings fastened to this piece for attaching a chain or strap thereto. Therefore this frame consists essentially of the two outside pieces F and G, and the central piece, to which the lock A is attached, these three being pivoted together at their ends, as shown at H H, by a crossbar, I.

Although these pieces are shown to be bent between their ends into a semi-quadrangular form, I do not confine myself to that particular shape, as they may be made of a semicircular, semi-elliptical, or any other desired ligure. It is important, however, that they should all have the same form of curve, so that when the bag is completed the side pieces, F and G, shall iit up closely to the central piece, E, under the` protection of its flanges.

The figure L represents a cross-section of the central piece, from which it is seen that it is made of a continuous sheet of metal, folded and bent so as to assume the form of the letter T very nearly.

The letter M represents a cross-section of the two outside frames, F and G; but I sometimes make these of the forms represented in section by the letters N and O.

The letter K represents a cross-section of the three pieces E F Gr when brought togetherto close the mouth of the bag, the side pieces, F and Gr, having the form of M. The side pieces may be made to show, in cross-section, a triangular, corrugated, or other form that combines lightness with strength, for when made of any of these forms they will resist bending or breaking much more than a dat or round strip of.

metal of the same weight, and thus give a surer protection to the contents of the bag against loss by accident or otherwise.

I prefer making the central piece, E, of sheet metal, bent in the form represented in crosssection, as shown in figure'L, not only because it combines strength and lightness in an eminent degree, but because the interstice between the lips forming the shaft or lower limb facilitates the attachment thereto of the divisioncloth commonly used in such bags, thus so completely separating the two cavities produced thereby that either'one may be opened and used Without exposing or disturbing the contents of the other. This central piece, E, might be made solid by rolling or casting the metal used, butthen this division-cloth ordiaphragm, if required, could not be so easily or securely attached to it as when constructed in the form proposed. However, in whatever manner the central piece, E, may be made, it is evident its general form gives it great additional strength over a mere hat sheet, while its projecting anges protect the side pieces, toa great extent, from being bent or injured, accidentally or intentionally, when locked or otherwise closed together, thus performing two important and much-desired functions in 'this class of devices.

It is proper to say that although the hasps A or bolts for fastening the frame together is shown, owing to the introduction of the pecutraveling, and other similar bags, of' three (3) pieces, when combined and arranged substantially as set forth.

2. The particular form of the central piece, E, when constructed in the manner and for the purpose setforth. Y

GEORGE HAVELL.

Witnesses:

DANIEL F. TOMPKINS, JOHN TOWNLEY. 

